Device for coating elements of continuous length

ABSTRACT

A device which includes a die member to apply a coating to the surface of an element of continuous length employs valve means associated with the die member to allow the coating composition to flow to the die member or to cut off the flow so that the continuous element may pass through the device in uncoated condition when desired.

United States Patent Skeeters May 13, 1975 DEVICE FOR COATING ELEMENTSOF 2.260.860 10/1941 Newton et al. 118/405 x TH 2,341,450 2 1944CONTINUOUOSPENG 3,044,098 7/1962 Stalson ll8/DlG. I8 [75] Inventor: Wlham Ro Skeeters, 3,170,968 2/1965 Rokunoke et a] 118/405 ux Sh lb '11,T e e FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [73] Assgneez 2 1 lndusmesPawtuckeh 724,760 2/1955 United Kingdom 118/405 [22] Filed: Apr. 17,1974 Primary Examiner-Morris Kaplan pp NO 461 747 Attorney, Agent, orFirmShapiro and Shapiro [57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl. 118/405 51 Int. Cl.B05c 3/12 A devlce mcludes member apply a [58] Field of Search lls/DlG18 404 405 coating to the surface of an element of continuous ls/DIG H425/113. 2 length employs valve means associated with the die member toallow the coating composition to flow to [56] References Cited the diemember or to cut off the flow so that the continuous element may passthrough the device in un- UNITED STATES PATENTS coated condition whendesired. 515,951 3/1894 Cobb 1l8/DlG. 18 2,111,853 3 1938 Fourness et al118 405 ox 9 Clams, 3 Drawlng Flgures DEVICE FOR COATING ELEMENTS OFCONTINUOUS LENGTH The invention relates to coating devices, and is moreparticularly directed to devices for coating elements of continuouslength.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Recently there has been developed acontinuous method for manufacturing pencils. A casing or sheathingcomposition is continuously extruded over a core of a pigmented orcolored lead or a graphite lead. The leads may be cut to length and fedin end-to-end abutting relation, or preferably the lead may also becontinuously extruded to receive thereon the co-extrusion of the casingcomposition. In any event, the continuous length of pencil material mustbe coated with a lacquer or paint prior to being cut into predeterminedlengths. If the pencils are of the type having an eraser at one endthereof the pencils are then subjected to the usual operations ofapplying a ferrule and an eraser.

At the beginning of a run in making a continuous length extrusion whichwill ultimately furnish pencils of fixed, predetermined lengths, it isnecessary to determine whether the continuous extrusion has the desiredcharacteristics; the diameter must be a predetermined dimension; thecross section must be of proper shape, truly round or hexagonal; and thesurface of the extrusion must have the desired characteristics. To applya micrometer to the extrusion, and to inspect it, it is essential thatthe extrusion pass through a coating device in dry condition. Then, itis desired to begin coating the extrusion without interrupting itstravel. Also, it is desired not to waste any lacquer or paint until thecharacteristics of the extrusion are such that the extrusion is inreadiness for the application of the coating composition thereto.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A device in accordance with the inventionemploys a die member to apply a coating to the periphery of an elementof continuous length. The device employs valve means associated with thedie member to allow the coating composition to flow to the die member orto cut off the flow of the coating composition so that the continuouselement may pass through the device uncoated when desired.

The coating device comprises a body member including an intermediatewall having an aperture to allow the passage of the continuous elementto be coated. A first axial bore is provided in the body member incommunication with and on one side of the aperture. A die member isfitted within the bore. An adjustable pressure member is positionedwithin the bore for engagement with the die member. A second axial boreis provided in the body member in communication with the aperture and onthe opposite side of the intermediate wall. An inlet opening is providedin the body member to allow the coating composition to be fed to thesecond bore. Valve means is provided within the second bore to allow thecoating composition to regulate the flow of coating composition to thedie member.

In accordance with the preferred form of the invention, the valve meanscomprises an annular wall extending axially from the aforementionedintermediate wall into the second bore and surrounding the aperture inthe intermediate wall. The free edge of the annular wall provides avalve element or seat. An adjustable valve member is positioned in thesecond bore for cooperation with the valve element or seat.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a device for coatingan element of continuous length which will enable the continuous lengthelement to pass through the device without receiving a coating tothereby enable the attainment of the aforementioned purposes. Also, itis an object of the invention to provide a device of the type underconsideration which is of simple construction, rugged and easytoroperate.

These, and other objects and advantages of the invention will beapparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunctionwith the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showingthe coating device of the invention as it may be mounted in a line forprocessing an element of continuous length;

FIG. 2 is a central, longitudinal cross-sectional view of the coatingdevice having the parts thereof arranged to apply a coating to thesurface of a continuous ele ment as it is drawn through the device;

FIG. 3 is a similar view showing the valve means of the device acting toprevent the application of a coating to the moving continuous element.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, the deviceA for coating an element L of continuous length may be mounted foralignment with any equipment in a line, for example, an extruder (notshown) for applying a casing composition to a writing core, such as apigmented or a graphite lead. A mounting B for the device A may comprisea clamping member 10 cooperable with a second clamping member 12, theclamping members having cutout portions 14, 14' so that the clampingmembers may tightly embrace the coating device. The clamping members maybe secured to one another by the con nectors 16, one of which is shown.The assembly of the coating device and the clamping plates may beconnected to a suitable bracket 18 which in turn is secured to a baseplate 20.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the device A for coating the element L ofcontinuous length comprises a body member C having an intermediate wall22. Preferably, and as illustrated, the body member is cylindrical orcircular in cross section. The intermediate wall is provided with acentral aperture 24 to allow passage of the element L. The aperture hasa diameter which is slightly greater than the cross-sectional dimensionof the element L.

The body member C is provided with a first axial bore 26 incommunication with and on one side of the aperture 24. A coating or diemember D is positioned within the axial bore. An adjustable pressuremember E. also is positioned within the bore 26 for engagement with thecoating member. The body member C is provided with a second axial bore28 in communication with the aperture 24 on the opposite side of theintermediate wall 22. An inlet opening 30 is provided in the body memberto allow a coating composition to be fed to thebore 28. Valve means F isprovided in the bore 28 for regulating the flow of coating compositionto the aperture 24 and to the coating member D.

In greater detail, and as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the die member D isfrusto-conical and is made of a suitable elastomeric material, such asrubber, neoprene, a butadiene polymer, or any other elastomeric materialwhich is resistant to lacquers, paints or the like. The die member has acentral opening 31. The shape of the opening corresponds to theconfiguration or cross section of element or extrudate L. Theconfiguration may be round, hexagonal or any other suitable shape. Theinternal surface of wall 32 of the body member which defines the bore 26is matingly contoured at 34 for engagement by the periphery of thefrusto-conical die member, the wall tapering down or converging towardthe aperture 24. The internal surface of the wall adjacent theconverging area 34 is of substantially constant diameter and internallythreaded at 36. The adjustable pressure member E is matingly threaded at38. The front face 40 of the adjustable pressure member is engageablewith the side 42 of the frusto-conical die member having the largerdiameter so that pressure may be applied in an axial direction tothereby control the diameter of the opening 31 extending through the diemember. The pressure member has a central opening 43 in alignment withthe opening 31 of the die member and the aperture 24. Preferably, theadjustable pressure member is provided with means cooperable with a toolfor rotating the member. As shown, such means may be in the form ofradially extending recesses 44 provided in a flange 46 designed toaccommodate a tool having projections (not shown).

The frusto-conical member D, and the mating surface 34 of the bodymember and the adjustable pressure member E are related so that thethickness of the coating which is wiped onto the traveling element Ldepends upon the degree of axial pressure applied to the die member bythe adjustable pressure member. The element of continuous orindeterminate length travels through the device in the directionindicated by the arrow in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. Rotating the pressure memberto increase axial pressure on the coating member reduces the diameter ofthe opening 31 to thereby reduce the thickness of the coating applied tothe traveling element L. Rotating the pressure member in the oppositedirection to relieve the axial pressure on the die member increases thesize of the opening 31 to increase the thickness of the applied coating,and further rotation of the pressure member in such direction increasesthe size of the opening 31 to allow the element L to move through thedevice with minimal friction.

The bore 28 is defined by a circumferential wall 46 having a largerdiameter than the wall 32 defining the bore 26. The aforementioned inletopening 30 extends through the wall 46, and may have an internallythreaded portion 48 to receive a threaded nozzle member 50 connected toa source of a coating composition such as a lacquer, paint or the like(not shown). The coating composition may be delivered through the inletopening 30 and into the bore 28 under pressure.

The valve means F comprises an annular wall 52 which extends axiallyfrom the intermediate wall 22 into the bore 28 and surrounds theaperture 24. The free edge 54 of the annular wall is formed to provide avalve element. As shown, the free edge is beveled to pfbvide a valveseat for cooperation with an adjustable VQiV iiliihber G. The valvemember is provided with a liifzib 56 having a mating bevel so that thepressure efigagifiem of the beveled surfaces 54 and 56 will prevent theflow of coating composition to the aperture 24 and to the coating memberB, as shown in FIG. 3.

The adjustable valve member G has a central opening 58 in alignment withaperture 24. It is formed with an annular groove or recess 60 withinwhich an O-ring 62 is positioned to provide a sliding seal with thesmooth internal surface portion provided by the bore 28. Also, the valvemember G is externally threaded at 64 for mating engagement with theinternally threaded portion 66 of the bore. Thus, the adjustable valvemember may be rotated so that it moves in an axial direction to engagethe valve seat 54 (FIG. 3), or it may be backed off from the valve seatto allow the coating composition to pass from the inlet 30 through theopening 68 between the valve members, into the area within the annularwall 52, through the aperture 24 and to the die member D. Like theadjustable pressure member E, the adjustable valve member G may beprovided with means cooperable with a tool (not shown) to enablerotating the valve member. As illustrated, such means may take the formof spaced recesses 70 extending axially into the end wall of the valvemember to receive mating projections on the tool.

While the coating device hereinbefore described is particularly usefulto apply various colored lacquers or paints to an extrusion which willultimately furnish pencils, it will be apparent that the device isuseful for operation upon any suitable element of continuous length. Thecontinuous extrusion may omit a central marking core to furnish anextrusion which, when cut to desired lengths, furnishes barrels formechanical pencils and ball point pen barrels. The central longitudinalopening extending through the cut segments receives the mechanicallyoperated lead or ball point pen refills. Also, the described coatingdevice may operate upon elements of continuous length which need not beextrusions, for example, wire, or any other element of continuouslength.

It is believed that the advantages and improved results furnished by thecoating device of the invention and its associated valve means will beapparent from the foregoing description of a preferred embodiment of theinvention. Various changes and modifications may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as sought to bedefined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A device for applying a liquid coating composition to an element ofcontinuous length comprising a body member including an intermediatewall having an aperture to allow passage of the element to be coated, afirst axial bore in the body member in communication with and on oneside of the aperture, a die member within said bore, an adjustablepressure member within said bore for engagement with the die member, asecond axial bore in the body member in communication with the apertureand on the opposite side of the intermediate wall, an inlet opening inthe body member to allow a coating composition to be fed to the secondbore, and valve means within said second bore for regulating the flow ofcoating composition to the die member, the valve means comprising anannular wall extending axially from said intermediate wall into saidsecond bore and surrounding said aperture, the free edge of the annularwall providing a valve element, and an adjustable valve member in thesecond bore cooperable with said valve element, the die member,adjustable pressure member and valve member having openings therethroughin alignment with said aperture.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the second axial bore isdefined by a circumferential wall, said inlet opening extendingtherethrough.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the die member isfrusto-conical, of elastomeric material and has a central opening, andthe wall of the body member defining the first bore at the area adjacentthe frustoconical member is matingly contoured, the wall convergingtoward said aperture.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein the wall 0 the body memberdefining the first bore adjacent the converging area is of substantiallyconstant diameter and internally threaded, and the adjustable pressuremember is matingly threaded, the pressure member being engageable withthe side. of the frusto-conical die member having the larger diameter toapply pressure in an axial direction to thereby control the size of thecentral opening-extending through the die member.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein the adjustedge of said annularwall is beveled to provide a valve seat and the adjustable valve memberis provided with a mating bevel whereby the pressure engagement of thebeveled surfaces will prevent the flow of coating composition to theaperture and to the die member.

7. A device according to claim 6, wherein the adjustable valve member isexternally threaded, and a portion of the internal surface of thecircumferential wall defining the second bore is matingly threaded.

8. A device according to claim 7, wherein the adjustable valve member isprovided with means cooperable with a tool for rotating the member.

9. A device according to claim 7, wherein the adjustable pressure memberand the adjustable valve member are each provided with means cooperablewith a tool for rotating the members.

1. A device for applying a liquid coating composition to an element ofcontinuous length comprising a body member including an intermediatewall having an aperture to allow passage of the element to be coated, afirst axial bore in the body member in communication with and on oneside of the aperture, a die member within said bore, an adjustablepressure member within said bore for engagement with the die member, asecond axial bore in the body member in communication with the apertureand on the opposite side of the intermediate wall, an inlet opening inthe body member to allow a coating composition to be fed to the secondbore, and valve means within said second bore for regulating the flow ofcoating composition to the die member, the valve means comprising anannular wall extending axially from said intermediate wall into saidsecond bore and surrounding said aperture, the free edge of the annularwall providing a valve element, and an adjustable valve member in thesecond bore cooperable with said valve element, the die member,adjustable pressure member and valve member having openings therethroughin alignment with said aperture.
 2. A device according to claim 1,wherein the second axial bore is defined by a circumferential wall, saidinlet opening extending therethrough.
 3. A device according to claim 1,wherein the die member is frusto-conical, of elastomeric material andhas a central opening, and the wall of the body member defining thefirst bore at the area adjacent the frusto-conical member is matinglycontoured, the wall converging toward said aperture.
 4. A deviceaccording to claim 3, wherein the wall of the body member defining thefirst bore adjacent the converging area is of substantially constantdiameter and internally threaded, and the adjustable pressure member ismatingly threaded, the pressure member being engageable with the side ofthe frusto-conical die member having the larger diameter to applypressure in an axial direction to thereby control the size of thecentral opening-extending through the die member.
 5. A device accordingto claim 1, wherein the adjustable pressure member is provided withmeans cooperable with a tool for rotating the member.
 6. A deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the free edge of said annular wall isbeveled to provide a valve seat and the adjustable valve member isprovided with a mating bevel whereby the pressure engagement of thebeveled surfaces will prevent the flow of coating composition to theaperture and to the die member.
 7. A device according to claim 6,wherein the adjustable valve member is extErnally threaded, and aportion of the internal surface of the circumferential wall defining thesecond bore is matingly threaded.
 8. A device according to claim 7,wherein the adjustable valve member is provided with means cooperablewith a tool for rotating the member.
 9. A device according to claim 7,wherein the adjustable pressure member and the adjustable valve memberare each provided with means cooperable with a tool for rotating themembers.